LL SW8 Upgrades?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Hey  gang, I just finally decided to pick up one of the LL SW8s (a steal @ $29.99, see http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZtrainhaus for your own), and I was wondering what good upgrades are out there for them?

I know that there's a wheel upgrade from NWSL, but they had some off-center issues, did they ever sort that out? I also remember there was a fuel tank upgrade too. Anyone played with one of those?

 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Also, if anyone has any good photos or sources of these, I'd be appreciative.

All I've found are ones on George Elwood's site.

If I don't find any good PC photos, it might turn out like this:
http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=15928

[3rdrail]

Also, if anyone has any good photos or sources of these, I'd be appreciative.

All I've found are ones on George Elwood's site.

If I don't find any good PC photos, it might turn out like this:
http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=15928

How are you gonna model that one Ed?  It's got three plain bearing axles and one roller bearing axle!! Only the PC could have done something like that.  :

[tom mann]

Ed, the wheel upgrade might not be a problem if you use that puller to ensure perfect placement.

The fuel tanks are pretty hot right off the bat; you might be thinking of Chris333's vo1000 project where he uses the LL tanks.

[Chris333]

My wheels wobbled a bit, but I have heard NWSL will replace them. Possibly they were new at 1mm axles when they first came out.

I made new contacts out of brass, it is shown somewhere online with a decoder install.

You can cut that roller bearing off of a freight car truck.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

How are you gonna model that one Ed?  It's got three plain bearing axles and one roller bearing axle!! Only the PC could have done something like that.  :

Wow, I didn't even notice that!

Ugh, only the PC...

Well, I may not end up doing THAT to it, but otherwise...

Thanks for the info on the NWSL wheels, I may try a set of em, and yeah, I think the VO might've been what I was thinking of (I gotta get one of those someday too).

[Ntrainz1]

try these

http://yardlimit.railfan.net/guide/index.html

http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/sw8.htm

http://yardlimit.railfan.net/emd/sw8/index.html

Bob.

[Scott Lupia]

I would be interested in finding out how the NWSL wheels work out as well.  I was considering that upgrade for my bunch of SW's. 

Scott

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'll report back, I just put in a request for some of them.

[jlong]

Which road did you get? The LL SW-8's are little gems but I never upgraded mine.

I had my watch on Kato GN RS-2 and tangled with 2 snipers seconds before closing. Managed to get it for $48.

[amato1969]

I'm hoping the Anthracite RR Historical Society will offer the LV "pup" conversion in N someday.  It's available now for those spoiled HO guys. 

http://lvrrmodeler.net/DBkit.htm

Please post some pics as you get going on your project.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I went for a PC version, but the I'd love one of the ex-Valley ones in blue (sorry, don't mean to offend).

[amato1969]

No offense taken!  I think the DBs add a lot of character to the little SWs, no matter what paint scheme they're in.

[Sokramiketes]

Also, if anyone has any good photos or sources of these, I'd be appreciative.

All I've found are ones on George Elwood's site.

If I don't find any good PC photos, it might turn out like this:
http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=15928

How are you gonna model that one Ed?  It's got three plain bearing axles and one roller bearing axle!! Only the PC could have done something like that.  :

Probably all roller bearing axles.  They didn't always replace the covers.

[Allentown Hump]

How are you gonna model that one Ed?  It's got three plain bearing axles and one roller bearing axle!! Only the PC could have done something like that.  :

What the heck are plain bearing trucks? Are they something new? I asked a couple of guys I know who worked for the PC back in the day along with a NS conductor friend and they never heard of plain bearing trucks...